Periodontal Therapy – San Antonio, TX
Protecting Your Smile Against Gum Disease
If someone doesn’t brush and floss consistently, their teeth can fall victim to cavities, but another effect of a lack of oral hygiene is periodontal disease, better known as gum disease. This common infection attacks the gums and underlying bone that support the teeth, leading to swelling, sensitivity, and potentially—tooth loss! Treating this type of condition requires special expertise on a dentist’s part, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here at Lorenzana Periodontics. Dr. Lorenzana is a board-certified periodontist with over 20 years of experience, so you can count on him to provide a variety of options for periodontal therapy in San Antonio, TX that can stop infection, heal your smile, and prevent problems in the future.
Why Choose Lorenzana Periodontics
for Periodontal Therapy?
- Board-Certified Periodontist with Over 20 Years of Experience
- Personalized, One-on-One Attention at Every Appointment
- Treatment That Feels Comfortable & Delivers Lasting Results
Complete Periodontal Diagnostics
In order to provide the most effective and long-lasting treatment possible, we put a lot of effort into diagnosing a patient accurately. Combining his trained eyes along with X-rays, Dr. Lorenzana is able to determine exactly what is harming someone’s smile and where he should focus his care. His diagnostic approach not only leads to higher-quality treatment, but it also enables him to accomplish more at each appointment, saving a patient time, stress, and dollars while their smile recovers!
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
If a gum infection is caught early enough, it can usually be treated non-surgically using methods like scaling and root planing (otherwise known as a “deep cleaning”) and antibiotic therapy. These serve to remove the built up plaque, tartar, and bacteria below the gum line that are often the root cause of gum disease. At Lorenzana Periodontics, we strive to avoid surgery whenever possible so our patients can get the treatment they need as comfortably and conveniently as possible.
Perioscopy-Assisted Scaling & Root Planing
In the past, if a patient had advanced gum disease, we would usually need to perform surgery in order to clearly see the infection and treat it accordingly. But now, with the Perioscope, we can treat and control advanced disease without having to perform an invasive surgical procedure. Scaling and root planing is typically a "blind" procedure performed by feel. This limits its effectiveness in pockets deeper than 5 mm. We use the Perioscope to guide us during the scaling and root planing procedure and actually see and more effectively remove the calculus (tartar) that trigger gum disease without having to use scalpels or sutures, which as you can imagine, is much more comfortable for our patients!
Learn About Perioscopy Assisted Scaling & Root Planing
Minimally Invasive Periodontal Surgery
When the gums have receded, or the bone supporting the teeth has been damaged by gum disease, surgery is usually the best solution. We can restore the gum line’s appearance using a gum graft, and osseous surgery allows us to reshape and build up the underlying bone so the teeth can have a strong, reliable foundation. Thanks to Dr. Lorenzana’s decades of experience, he’s able to perform these procedures in a way that minimizes a patient’s discomfort and recovery time afterward, ensuring they’ll be able to resume their normal lives as quickly as possible.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer may not be a common diagnosis, but it’s not considered rare, either. Sources estimate that approximately 54,000 to 60,000 U.S. Americans are diagnosed with this condition every year, and catching it early is essential to potentially improving a patient’s prognosis.
That’s why Dr. Lorenzana includes an oral cancer screening with routine periodontal visits. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect from this brief examination and why it’s necessary!
Signs & Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Unfortunately, oral cancer in its initial stages is often mistaken for a more common, less harmful issue, such as a common cold or a benign sore or mouth irritation. Understanding the early warning signs that point to a more serious condition can let you know when it’s time to contact our office for help.
Oral cancer often exhibits the following symptoms:
- Lumps, bumps, or cold sores in the soft tissues of your mouth that don’t heal after a week or two
- Firm, raised sections of oral tissue
- A lump in the throat that can make it difficult to swallow
- Loose teeth
- Discomfort when biting down or chewing
- Discolored or blemished patches of skin
- Sudden changes to your voice
- A chronic or persistently sore throat
What Does a Periodontist Look for During an Oral Cancer Screening?
If you’re concerned that screening your mouth for indicators of oral cancer will be a lengthy or uncomfortable process, you can thankfully set your concerns aside. Dr. Lorenzana will visually examine your lips, mouth, tongue, and throat to identify any signs of this potentially serious condition, which usually only takes a few minutes.
Then, if he finds potential symptoms, he will discuss his concerns with you and provide additional information or testing to confirm whether oral cancer is present.
What Can I Expect During My Screening?
Are you worried that screening your tissues for oral cancer might cause discomfort? It’s natural to feel nervous, but Dr. Lorenzana is a skilled periodontist with 25+ years of experience and can help make the process as comfortable as possible.
Typically, screening your mouth for oral cancer involves a visual examination, but Dr. Lorenzana might gently touch any suspicious tissue to assess its firmness. You might also gently palpate your neck to check for lumps in your throat. If he asks to see you back in a couple of weeks, please try not to panic. It doesn’t necessarily confirm that you have oral cancer, but it may indicate that there are areas of concern requiring additional investigation.